Railway-track structure.



No. 694,06. Patented Feb. 25,4902.

H. B. mums. RAILWAY TRACK STRUCTURE.

(Applic ation filed Dec. 26 1901.) Modem 4 Sheets-Shaet I.

N0. GEM-J76; Patented Feb. 25, I902.

H. B. HIGH 8.

RAILWAY TRACK S TUBE.

(Application filed Dam 26. 1901. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

ill/70) Z Patented Feb. 25, I902 a. 8. Means. RAILWAY: TRACK STRUCTURE.

(Apph t nflledDe 28 1901) v 4 Sheets- Shaet 4.

(No Model.)

m: nonrus "grins coi vum'aum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. NICHOLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAl LWAY-TRACK STRUCTU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,176, dated February 25,1902. Ap lication filed December 26, 1901. Serial No. 87,164.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY B. NIGHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphiafln the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Track Struotures,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a railway-track structure-such as frogs, switches, or crossings-and in such connection it relatesto the construction and arrangement of such a structure.

The principal object of my invention is to provide in a track structu resuch as a crossing, frog, or switch-a hardened plate or block adapted to be inserted in the castinguniting the meeting rails together and to be quickly and firmly secured in said casting by a soft-metal filling, the securing soft metal being so arranged that a portion of the same may be readily removed without disturbing the structure and thereafter the metal plate or block quickly and readily separated from the casting to permit of replacement or repairs.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a railwaytrack structure embodying main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 3 3 and at 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 isa View similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a still further modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 5, but illustrating the modification of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10.10 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 11 is aperspective view of the lower or under face of the plate or block of Figs. 6 to 10.

In the drawings the improvement is illustrated as applied to a track-crossing; but it is to be understood that with suitable changes readily suggestible to the skilled mechanic the improvement may be also applied to other track structures-such as frogs, switches, and the like.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a,

a, a and a represent the ends of four rails crossing each other at a required angle. These ends a, a, a and a do not abut, but approach each other to form a substantially rectangular opening, wherein a hardened steel plate or block 12, forming the crossing-piece, is adapted to be inserted to form the continuation of the rail-sections. The manner in which this block or plate I) is firmly secured in place, so as to be accessible for quick and easy removal, forms the main feature of my present invention. For this purpose the base of the block b has an extension 12, which as viewed in cross-section in Fig. 2 is of inverted pyramidal form. The inclined sides of this extension I) are hollowed out to form a groove or grooves b which by preference-is or are semicylindrical in cross section. In the casting d, which unites the meeting rails, a pocket is formed which is of a shape complemental to the under face of the block b and to its extension 1), and in the walls of the pocket adjacent to the groove or grooves 19 are formed or out out a similar groove or grooves d. The pocket in which the block b and its extension fits is somewhat larger than the block and the extension, so that between the contiguous faces of the block, its extension, and the pocket, a space is formed into which soft metal or other material e-such as zinc, sulfur, &c.-in 2. molten or liquid state is poured to form in cooling not only a lining or support between the block and its extension and the casing d, but also a means for securing the block and extension in the pocket of the casting. The material e also fills the substantially cylindrical opening or openings formed by the contiguous and complemental grooves b and b and forms in said opening-or openings a substantially cylindrical plug or plugs e of soft metal, which keys or looks the extension b in the pocket of the casting d. The end of the plug or plugs e are exposed, inasmuch as the casting d does not cover the ends of the block b, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4., although it does inclose the sides of the said block, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Hence, if it is desired to remove the block b and its extension b from the casting d a drill can be applied to each plug 6 and the plug quickly bored out, thus severing the main key or look securing the extension to the casting. When the plug or plugs e are thus removed a steel wedge may be inserted between the block b and the castingd at an exposed end, and by this means when the wedge is forced inward with a hammer the block and its extension may be quickly lifted out of the pocket in the casting d, the soft-metal lining e readily separating from the casting'or block. To facilitate the ready insertion of a wedge, a wedge-shaped piece of wood or other material (2 may be inserted between the block b and the casting d at either end of the block prior to pouring the soft metal e, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. These wedges 6 either readily fall out after the pouring operation or can be quickly removed prior to the insertion of a steel wedge to separate the block and extension from the casting d.

In Figs. 1 to 4 the plugs e are shown as two in number and as extending through the casting cl and extension b from end to end. It is, however obvious that one plug 0' or more than two plugs 8 can be used. In Fig. 5 the plug 6 corresponds to the plug e, but it is broken up into sections separated by pieces of wood, clay, or other material a This construction is substantially as strong as the continuous plug 6, and has the 'advantage of requiring less length of metal to be drilled. In this form the metal sections e are arranged at points within the casting d where they may most securely lock the extension I) to the casting d. The end sections e may drop out, as do the wedges 6 or may be cut out before the metal sections e are removed by the drill.

In the forms illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 the plugs e or e are horizontally located and can be drilled out only aftera portion of the paving has been removed to expose the ends of the block or plate I) and adjacent portionsof the casting d, so that the drill can be inserted. In the form illustrated in Figs. 6 to 11 provision is made whereby the plugs 2 corresponding to the plugs e or e 9, can be reached from the top of the block or plate I) corresponding to the block or plate b and with out disturbing the surrounding paving material. To accomplish this, the block or plate b is formed, as illustrated in Fig. 11, with a pyramidal extension I), on the end edges of which project the fins or ribs Z2 the sides of which are grooved or channeled, as at b.

The ends of the block or plate-b are cut away, as at b, adjacent to these fins or ribs 17 and the pocket in the castingd is formed oomplementally to the form of the extension I) and its channeled ribs I9 The top of each fin or rib Z2 is flattened or tapered, as at 19 so that a wedge may be inserted between the rib and the adjacent surface of the casting d, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6, -7, and 11, when the plugs e have been cutout and the block or plate b is to be removed.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway-track structure, a casting uniting the meeting rails,in combination with a block seated and removably secured to said casting, an extension filling said casting and having grooves or channels and a bed or filler interposed between the block, its extension and the casting and filling the grooves or channels of said extension to form a key or look accessible from the outside of the castmg.

2. In a railway-track structure, a casting uniting the meeting rails and having a pocket or recess, in combination with a block seated and removably secured in said pocket, an extension formed on the base of the block and fitting said pocket, the side or sides of said extension-and the adjacent wall or walls of the pocket being complementally grooved or channeled and a bed or filler interposed between the plate, its extensionand the casting, said bed or filler filling the complemental grooves or channelstoform a key or look accessible from the outside of thecasting.

3. In a railway-track structure, a casting uniting the meeting rails and provided with a pocket or recess, a block adapted to be seated in said pocket and to be inclosed ontwo sides only by said casting, an inverted pyramidal extension formed on the base of the block and entering said pocket, adjacent sides of the extension and pocket being complementally grooved to form an opening and a metal bed or filler arranged between the block, its extension and the casting, said bed or filler entering said opening to form a removable key or look.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signaturein the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY B. NICHOLS. Witnesses J. WALTER DOUGLASS, RICHARD O. MAXWELL. 

